Chapter 25
Chapter
Twenty-Five
It was around five in the morning when I padded round to Dave’s front door past the tree he’d finally planted in the hole he’d dug with Thane.
It wasn’t lost on me that the tree’s branches extended across the garden wall into my garden, nor that they were perfectly positioned for a cat to balance on.
Dave was fonder of my furry family than he let on.
The tree confirmed that I was doing the right thing by leaving him a carefully written note.
It mostly contained instructions about what to do for the cats if I didn’t return.
I planned to leave the sealed envelope on his doorstep as I’d done on many occasions in the past, but this was the first time I reckoned he might actually get the chance to read it.
Usually I returned and retrieved the envelopes long before Dave could see them.
As I approached, he opened the door and scowled out at me. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’
Ah. I’d never had to explain myself face-to-face before. Unable to find the right words, I handed him the envelope and stepped back. ‘Don’t open it unless I don’t come back,’ I said quietly.
Dave’s glare was ferocious. ‘Where are you going?’
‘I can’t tell you.’
‘What are you doing?’
‘I can’t tell you that either.’
‘What about that daft ginger boyfriend of yours?’
At that moment Thane stepped into my garden dressed entirely in black like me. There was no concealing the various weapons and bottled enchantments that were strapped to his body.
Dave sucked in a breath. ‘Is it dangerous?’
I opened my mouth but he held up a hand. ‘Don’t answer that.’ He sighed heavily and tugged at his long, unkempt hair. ‘Wait here.’ He sniffed then disappeared into his house.
I sent Thane a helpless look and he grimaced in response. ‘It’s okay,’ he mouthed, while I shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.
Dave reappeared a moment later, still wearing his grubby dressing gown and characteristic scowl. He avoided looking me in the eye but thrust something at me. ‘Here,’ he grunted. ‘Take this.’
Um…
He pressed it into my hands. ‘Take it,’ he insisted.
I looked down at the small, carved wooden amulet that lay in my palm. It was intricately constructed and I knew from the hum of magic that emanated from it that it was both powerful and expensive. ‘Dave, this is too much.’
His scowl deepened further. ‘It’s a loan,’ he muttered. ‘Not a gift. You can return it when you get back. It’s made from rowan, a protective charm of the sort you don’t often get nowadays.’
I curled my fingers tightly around it and swallowed. ‘Thank you,’ I whispered. ‘I’ll do everything I can to make sure it gets back to you.’
He nodded. ‘I don’t know what you’re doing, girlie. Or why.’ He wagged his finger. ‘But you’d better return. I hate those damned cats of yours and if you don’t come back I’ll use them for my next hotpot.’
As if. I smiled, hoping the lump in my throat would soon subside. ‘You’re one of the good ones, Dave.’
His cheeks coloured. ‘So are you.’ Then, doubtless because the swell of emotions was becoming too much for him, he slammed the door shut. I knew he was still there on the other side because I could sense his lingering presence.
The rowan charm was on a simple leather cord. I hung it around my neck and tucked it carefully beneath my shirt; it already felt warm against my skin. I placed the palm of my hand against Dave’s front door. He’d know what I was doing.
I bowed my head for a moment then I turned on my heel and headed for the street.
We weren’t the only tram passengers but the other commuters gave us a wide berth.
Frankly, if I got onto public transport and I was confronted by a werewolf dressed in black and carrying weapons, a cat with one ear wearing specially designed body armour, and a purple-haired woman with a glint of crazed determination in her eye, I’d have kept well away, too.
We meant business and everyone realised it.
The tram driver was a witch whom I knew vaguely from other journeys. When we hopped off at Crackendon Square she called, ‘I hope it goes well for you. Don’t kill anyone unless they really deserve it!’
I glanced at She Without An Ear. ‘Welcome to Coldstream,’ I murmured. The cat purred in response and Thane grinned.
We crossed the square quickly and took the shortest route to Hirsel Street; at the pace we maintained, it was little more than a ten-minute walk.
The sky was already lightening so there was no risk of any wandering vamps spotting us but I remained wary because other creatures besides the fanged ones knew of the Understream and frequented its depths.
Luckily, most of the passersby were too caught up in their own affairs to pay us any attention though one bleary-eyed drunk, staggering home after a night on the tiles, lurched in our direction.
‘Cat!’ he exclaimed to nobody in particular. ‘Look! A cat!’ He crouched down as if he wanted to scoop She Without An Ear into his arms. She snarled, hissed, then snapped at his outstretched fingers. Sensibly, he pulled away and we continued the rest of our journey unimpeded.
Most of the pubs and bars were still open; actually, they never really closed because Coldstream’s party central catered for all Preternaturals, regardless of their nocturnal or diurnal proclivities.
Hirsel Street itself was almost empty, however.
Only a slow-moving wirry cow disposing of the weekly rubbish was making her way towards us.
We nodded a silent greeting as we passed her.
Cold Tones, the karaoke bar, came into view.
‘Okay,’ I said quietly. ‘We’ll go in together and order a drink.
All I know is that the entrance point to the Understream is somewhere beneath the stage.
We’ll have to look for it without anyone realising what we’re doing and then slip in unnoticed when we can. ’
From her spot by my feet, She Without An Ear miaowed. I inclined my head. ‘Thank you.’
Thane raised his eyebrows in question and I nodded. ‘Yes.’
He took my hand and squeezed it. ‘Then let’s do this.’
I squared my shoulders and we marched to the door.
Although the strains of music were faint from outside, once we entered the bar they were much louder. It was all a bit much for this time of the morning.
A pixie was on the stage, belting out ‘Come on Eileen’ as if her life depended on it. The smattering of people inside certainly appreciated her efforts and were joining in the chorus, adding claps and foot thumps when required.
Thane and I drew into a shadowy alcove. As I’d said aloud to Thane, I planned to buy a couple of drinks so as not to draw attention, but from the distant look on the bartender’s face she didn’t care whether I spent any money or not.
She Without An Ear wasted no time in weaving her way through the tables and chairs to the stage. I watched her for as long as I could, but when she vanished behind the backdrop I leaned against Thane and checked out the other customers. Nobody was taking any notice of us. I smiled grimly.
‘So far so good,’ Thane murmured in my ear.
Indeed. Although there was a lot that could go wrong and this was an incredibly risky operation, I was a one-problem-at-a-time kind of person.
Getting into the Understream was the first problem but so far we were on schedule and about to solve that particular problem. I wasn’t happy – but I was satisfied.
One minute ticked by, then another. The pixie yielded the stage to a bearded troll who appeared to have a penchant for Britney Spears. I twitched and waited for She Without An Ear to return but there was no sign of her.
More time passed. As Britney’s song ended, a tall witch approached us. ‘Hey! We’re doing a Beatles’ number. We need two more people for the chorus. Fancy joining in?’
Thane smiled disarmingly. ‘I’m not a Beatles’ fan.’
‘Everyone is a Beatles’ fan!’
I fixed the witch with my coldest death stare. She glanced at me, flinched and backed away.
‘We’re trying not to draw attention to ourselves, Kit,’ Thane admonished.
I pulled a face. He was right, but the more seconds that passed, the more anxious I became. Usually I could dampen my emotions when I was on a job but that was impossible when my cats’ wellbeing was concerned.
The witch and her friends were halfway through ‘Hey Jude’ when I decided that I couldn’t wait any longer. ‘Enough,’ I growled. Thane touched my elbow to let me know he was with me.
We skirted around the stage towards the back. The chorus was in full swing; although the tall witch spotted us, she hastily looked away. She was here to sing and drink and she wanted no part of what we were up to. Sensible lady.
The public part of Cold Tones was well-heeled and welcoming, and surprisingly the area behind the stage was much the same. I wasn’t interested in the décor, though, only my damned cat. My stomach lurched as I looked for She Without An Ear. Where was she? What had happened? What if…?
‘There,’ Thane said. ‘There’s her tail.’
I released a sigh of relief and darted over, taking care to avoid the wires and trip hazards. ‘What’s wrong?’ I hissed. ‘She Without An Ear? Are you alright?’
She raised her head and I caught a glimpse of feline guilt. I put my hands on my hips. ‘Is that a burger? We’ve been waiting and worrying because you decided to stop for a snack?’
She swallowed what was already in her mouth and turned to face us.
‘The kitchen is over there,’ Thane said drily. ‘She must have sneaked in and nabbed it.’
There was an angry shout from beyond the kitchen door. Ah. ‘At least tell me you found the entrance to the Understream,’ I said with barely disguised exasperation. We needed to vamoose – and quickly. The last thing we needed was an irate chef wielding a sharp knife.
She Without An Ear sniffed, padded over to a trapdoor, sat on top of it and stared at me.
‘You are a terrible scout,’ I told her as I scooped her up in my arms and placed her on my shoulders.
Thane lifted the trapdoor and peered down. ‘This looks about right.’
The kitchen door started to open. ‘Let’s go,’ I said hurriedly. ‘Now.’